Respiratory diseases in children and adolescents: profiling primary care visits in Vitória/ES

Abstract

Objective: To identify the main reasons for visiting a primary health care facility among 0-19 year old residents with respiratory diseases, as well as their frequency, and to associate the severity of those diseases with age and socioeconomic status. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on all visits to any of the 30 basic health units of the city of Vitória, ES in 2014, using the electronic database Rede Bem Estar. A descriptive analysis was carried out on sociodemographic variables, diagnostic groups and the month of these visits, in addition to logistic regression between the topography of the impairment of the respiratory system and sociodemographic variables. Results: Respiratory diseases were the most frequent reason for visiting the primary health care facility among all 113,252 0-19 years old participants included in the study (28,810, corresponding to 25.43% of the total and 40.18% of visits due to illness), particularly “acute upper respiratory infections” (61.35%), “chronic lower respiratory diseases” (14.60%), and “other diseases of the upper airways” (8.69%). The months of March to November showed higher frequency of visits, and the visit rates decreased with age, proving to be higher among residents of neighborhoods with lower average income. The upper airways were more affected in all age groups, especially in the older ones, and in residents of higher average income neighborhoods. However, only 6% of the variance of the distribution based on the topography of the impairment of the respiratory system was explained by age group and socioeconomic status. Conclusions: Respiratory diseases have a major impact on the pediatric population in Vitória. Primary and secondary prevention measures are recommended, taking into account the multi-causality involved in determining these diseases.